Into the No-Zone. Eugene Lambert

and says she has.

      ‘What’s it like out in the Deeps?’ Colm asks.

      ‘Not good,’ she tells us. ‘Schroeder’s followers were on their way here to seize you, but Ballard’s fighters turned them away.’

      ‘Was that the shooting we heard last night?’ I ask.

      She spills some of the soup she’s pouring into my bowl. ‘It’s got a bit of meat in it this time. Eat up now, before it goes cold.’

      I gaze at her, suspicious. ‘Rona?’

      Finally she meets my eye, looking so troubled I get a lump in my throat and wish I’d kept my mouth shut.

      ‘It’s Sky,’ she says.

      My heart goes bang. ‘Is she all right? What’s happened?’

      ‘I’m sorry, Kyle. She’s gone.’

      ‘Gone? What do you mean gone?’

      My foster-mother sighs. ‘Last night a windjammer launched without clearance. The winch-launcher was hacked and remote-controlled. They tried to shoot it down. It got away.’

      That heavy blaster fire last night . . .

      I feel dizzy, like I’ve stood up too fast.

      ‘No way! Sky wouldn’t clear off without me –’

      Words stick in my throat as the truth sucker-punches me. Ness must have come up with the goods about her sister’s location. And here’s me, trapped and useless. A liability, that’s all.

      Colm doesn’t look surprised, but clutches at straws for me.

      ‘Are you sure it was Sky?’

      Rona slumps down on to a stool. ‘It was the Never Again, your mate Dern’s ship. He has form for clearing off when the going gets tough, I hear. Only he was found later in a ditch, tied up and gagged, a lump on his head big as a lizard egg.’

      I groan. ‘Don’t tell me. Sky did it?’

      She nods and tucks away a stray lock of her greying hair. ‘Dern says she poured a liquor bottle down his neck before clobbering him. He’s mad as hell. Can’t say I blame him.’

      My spoon slips from my hand and clatters on the table.

      ‘I don’t believe this.’

      I’d been sure that if push came to shove and Ballard couldn’t protect us, Sky would get off her arse and rescue us.

      Colm was right though. Sky doesn’t care.

      ‘I’m sorry,’ Rona says, reaching for my hand.

      But I’m too gutted and too fast . . . and I won’t let her have it.